Do you want to give the best of yourself or what’s left of yourself?
Providing care and assistance to those we love, to organizations we love and appreciate, and thousands of other passions and interests we all have is important to creating the world we want to live in. However balance is key. We do not need to sway to the extreme of me first or them first but through great awareness, we can discern when we are being responsible to others, nature, and of course ourselves.
A state of well-being is whereby an individual can cope with the normal stresses of life and contribute to others and their community. We all know its important to look after ourselves but sometimes in the rush and busyness of life, in this culture, we forget or find it hard to make time and make it a priority. I have found the following list holds true – whether its eating better or moving more…inserting some self- care regularly in our daily life allows us to take better care of ourselves and therefore have more left over for those around us!
- Check-in with yourself.
Recognize what YOU need. This requires s mindful approach to checking in with ourselves and reconnecting with our values to see where we are at. Often we may catch ourselves running on auto-pilot to juggle all our responsibilities. Yikes! So take a moment – put down the devices, quiet the mind, exhale. Check-in with how you’ve been feeling the last couple of days. Tired, irritable, or pushing too hard? What’s the potential fix – do you need rest? any underlying emotion that is asking for attention? Recognize and then act with out judgement on accepting a need to readjust, modify, recalibrate. - Get moving – because you can!
Our bodies are built for movement. Walking alone has huge impacts on our mental and physical health, Its not a chore Its a necessity.
Do you want to age or get old?
Start small and build, - Check what’s on your plate!
Nutritious food is not negotiable to sustain busy lives – often overlooked for ease and timing. Good food has a massive effect on our long term health that its worth investing the time and attention. The act of eating is nurturing but can sometimes be driven by emotional factors. Take a moment to reflect on your current eating habits. The key is not to judge yourself but to recognize and act on it in a positive and supportive way that is best for your wellbeing. Ask me for assistance with cravings, dietary choices and more. - Sacred Sleep
How amazing do you feel after a good sleep!? The quality of your sleep will affect many of the other self-care behaviors so its important to address “sleep health”. Sleeping patterns, uncluttered bedrooms, dark cool rooms, amazing bed linens all support good sleep. Sleep quality is an indicator of health – you either have good sleep or you do not. You cannot force good sleep. Unconscious daytime issues impact your sleep as your brain does not fully turn off at night – it continues to assist in breathing, detoxifying and addressing incomplete thoughts from the day!
Understand how to address sleep issues and get rest. - Feed your endorphins, your bliss, your spirit.
What ever is nurturing, restorative, impactful – small amounts practiced regularly throughout your day – reading your fav book, magazine, music, browse – we must first turn inwards to give more fully to those around us – when we are filled we can splash extra on others – family, friends, work, team, or social connections. - Get help and support when you need it !
Sometimes we need to share our burdens not from a victim place but purely acknowledging and seeking another perspective – maybe a trusted friend or family member and sometimes from a professional or group. Often when we hear ourselves speak to another we hear our best solutions!